Chigozie Obiekwe and his siblings wanted to make their mother happy after she just lost her husband. They believed that if she was shown affection, she would think less about the loss of their patriarch.

So, they asked her to mention something her children could do for her and she gladly asked for a car as a gift.

Pronto, the children tasked themselves and started raising money. Meanwhile, Chigozie, who is an entrepreneur based in Enugu, took it upon himself to shop for a good car for their mother.

He chose to surf the Internet in search of a good offer. When he stumbled on a website purportedly owned by the Nigeria Customs Service, on which impounded cars ready for sale by auction were displayed.

Obiekwe could hardly believe his luck when he found out that a 2010 Toyota Camry on the website was being offered for N400,000. Ordinarily, such a car costs almost N3m in the open market.

The young man swiftly got in touch with one Mike, who was listed on the website as a Customs officer and the contact for the cars, with a telephone number beside his name.

Obiekwe told Saturday PUNCH, “I came about the website where exotic cars especially Toyota Camry models were displayed. The cars were labelled as those impounded by the Customs Service and put up for auction. I checked and saw contacts of one Mr. Mike of Seme Border Customs Service, as the main man.

“I called Mike who identified himself as a Customs officer and he said the auction would close by January 9. He said I could pay some money into the account of his boss the following day so that the car would be delivered to me in Awka.”

Obiekwe said he did some background checks, in order to avoid falling prey to fraudsters.

“I also checked up one Mr. Ogunmola from among a long list of car dealers doing business with the Customs. I called a Customs officer at the same Seme border and he confirmed that the auction was indeed ongoing but that he was on leave.

“But he said I could do business with Mike as a genuine Customs officer. Based on this assurance, I paid in N100,000 as deposit into one Alhaji Ali Musa’s bank account in First Bank, as supplied by Mike.”

Obiekwe found the condition of the transaction very liberal and reassuring. Mike told Obiekwe that he could make a part payment after which the car would be delivered to him in Awka on the same day of payment. Then, he could drive the car for a week and pay the balance, if he was satisfied.

“After payment was confirmed by Mike, he supposedly instructed a driver, Mr. Muhammed, to deliver the car to my location in Awka. Apart from the money I paid into the bank account, Mike made me to send recharge cards worth N10,000 to him and Muhammed, the purported driver.

“Then, he cut off contact with me. He refused to pick my calls anymore. After 24 hours had elapsed without the car being delivered to me, I began to fear that I might have been swindled by a Customs officer,” he stated.

Unknown to him, he had just been conned by an organised fraud syndicate.

Checks by Saturday PUNCH revealed that the website in question, http://nigeriacarmart.com/used_car-9327-Toyota_Camry_lx.html, is a cloned form of nigeriacarmart.com that deals in cars and after sales services.

Our correspondent then posed as someone seeking an impounded car to buy. Saturday PUNCH contacted Mike and he turned out to be a soft-spoken man who identified himself as a Customs officer in charge of cars impounded by the service.

He first of all enquired whether our correspondent had a voter card or a driver’s license. When told that a driver’s licence was available, he said that was okay.

“I will use it to do your registration but right now, you have to call me back because we are in a meeting concerning the auction,” he said over the telephone.

Before hanging up, he did not fail to ask our correspondent the brand and model of car he wanted. During a subsequent chat, he said our correspondent would be required to pay the sum of N20,000 for the driver who would drive the car from the Abuja office of the Customs Service.

He also said a part payment would be required for the car.

Cars displayed on the website included different types and models of Toyota Camry and the highest cost N400.000 in auction sales. Ordinarily, such cars are sold for millions in the open market.

Our correspondent requested a 2009 model Camry, with a price tag of N300,000. He also agreed to make a N100,000 part payment, in addition to the N20,000 for the driver.

“The driver will bring the car but apart from paying his fee, you will have to make a part payment for the car. You will get the car if you pay tomorrow early in the morning.

“Then, you can drive it for one week and if you are satisfied, you will then pay the balance.

“I will give you details of my boss’ account when you call me very early tomorrow Tuesday,” he said.

Mike was the first person to call our correspondent the following day. After sending details of the bank account by SMS, he advised our correspondent to pay by 8am so that the driver could start heading to Lagos from Abuja.

Meanwhile, when he asked where our correspondent would like to take delivery of the car, a location on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway was suggested as the most convenient spot.

“Pay on time so that our oga (boss) would approve the sale of the car. Then I can tell Muhammed (driver) to start coming from our Abuja office,” he said.

Almost one hour after, Mike called to find out whether the money had been paid into the account he sent. But our correspondent told him that his ATM card was not available for use and that he was caught in traffic.

His calls became hourly and at a point, he informed our correspondent that a lady was putting his boss under pressure to sell the same car to her.

“A lady is ready to pay and have the car but I am telling oga that you will soon pay. So let me know as soon as you pay so that the driver can start coming,” he said in an impatient tone on the telephone.

But each time he called, our correspondent pleaded for more time to raise the cash. At a point, he asked our correspondent to do a bank transfer.

He later sent a text message which read, “What is the situation of things? Alhaji wants to sell the car and give you another one. What do you think since you couldn’t pay today?”

The bank and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission were swiftly tipped off and they proceeded to apprehend the suspected swindler.

The account was promptly frozen on Wednesday and when Musa went to one of the bank’s branches in Minna, Niger State to find out the reason for the action, he was immediately arrested and handed over to the police.

He was eventually transferred to the EFCC and moved to its headquarters in Abuja.

Even up till Monday morning when Obiekwe was speaking with our correspondent, he was miffed that men of the Customs Service could defraud him in the guise of selling a car to him.

But he was devastated when our correspondent told him that those who received the money from him were not Customs officers but suspected con-men.

He said, “I am very devastated to say the least. Right now, I am at a loss because apart from N100,000 that I paid for the car, I lost N10,000 worth of airtime.

“I am also with all necessary evidence to support my case, including recorded telephone conversations between the so-called Customs officers and myself as well as a copy of the webpage where they photographed themselves in Customs uniform advertising the said cars as purportedly authorised by the Federal Government,” he said.

Attempts to reach the Customs Service were not successful as calls made to the telephone line of the NCS Public Relations Officer, Mr. Wale Adeniyi, did not go through.

But a top shot in the service who spoke with our correspondent in confidence said the Customs Service is daily inundated with complaints by individuals who fall victim of the antics of scammers posing as Customs officers.

The source told our correspondent, “I don’t have to tell you that the case you have just narrated is a fraud case. We receive complaints of this nature everyday but we tell people that there is a standard for auctioning vehicles in the service. But I pray people will listen to us and stop falling victim of fraud and robbery.”

Spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujiaren, said the suspect was still in the custody of the agency.

“He is with us and we are currently investigating the matter,” Uwujiaren said.

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Ozi Sadiku

There is also one Tony Akenzua who lives in Iba area of Ojo LGwho had defrauded a number of people pretending to be a custom man too. I don’t know why these type of fraudsters are allowed to go on living unchallenged even when they are appropriately reported. I think they are working in conjunction with some custom bigwigs.

Tony Aneni

After NPF the most corrupt fedral agency is the Nigerian Custom services. EFCC or police does not need a second Punch sting operation to arrest the man if they want to do their job. The account is domiciled in a branch, a phone number is attached to the account and a verified address is attached to the account. Police will not treat it with seriousness because the man is not willing to part with something. However because Punch is in the media and may blow open police request for bribe, they were forced to do their job. The voiceless poor man in this country suffering from institutional failure. EFCC and Police has a responsibility to randomly check this websites, do sting operations and bring all this criminals to the knowledge of Nigerians. That is proactive policing and not waiting for crimes to be reported at their stations only for them to start asking you for transport money to the crime scene.

Too good.

There is another mr Sado Samuel(sam) who has also been defruadi his friends. He always told them that he works with the NPA i.e Nigerian port Authority Lagos that he help them get any car of their choice. Even his case has be reported to our office here in Lagos.

Good job

great job in apprehending the con man. This is one instance where the media uses its enormous influence in effecting change. It’s high time the media recognized their strategic significance in our society. If they decide to follow a story to its conclusion (until something is done about it), they can sustain public interest thus ensuring the story doesn’t get swept under the carpet like the many over the years. Kudos Punch, EFCC for a job well done!!!

El Egwu

This car was too cheap even for an auction. The buyer should be more astute because at these prices, alarm bell should be ringing. Besides, no Nigerian custom officer would sell that car to a member of public instead of buying it and selling it on at a higher profit! I am not in Nigeria but it baffles me how our citizens are still so gullible.

As for the customs, I have had close encounters and they are not pleasant. It is a torturous mafia and no civilized rules exist there. They are the worst of the lot. After 27 years living overseas and planning to return and set up a business, these people at the ports are frustrating me, asking for bribes and their agents taking over the whole show. All the promises from Okonjo Iweala has gone the way of other empty talk. WHY HAS SHE NOT CLEANSED THE PORTS? Punch can go ahead and expose true corruption and economic sabotage similar to the rot in Police management we saw recently.

Talktrue

The truth is “avoid awuff”! Chikena!

Mozart

Well done Punch Newspapers, very proud of you. This is what you call professional investigative journalism, you deserve a medal.

Ola Roti

Well said @Talktrue. If a deal appears too good to be true, it is most likely not true.

Chris Gabriels

Greed pushed the buyer. Reasoning took flight. How can you get a three million naira car for 400k and still enjoy the privilege of part payment, usage for 2 weeks and complete your payment, if satisfied. Are you going to use the car for 2 weeks without registration? Or are you going to return it after 2 weeks, in case you are unsatisfied, registered? It doesn’t make sense to me.

BBQ

Long throat. I really do not pity the duped man. What kind of “good luck” is this – a vehicle worth millions available to you for 400K and all the promise of getting your part payment of 100K refunded if you do not like the car after test driving same. Which planet is this guy from?

afowowe chris

Well done punch, good enlightenment well done.

Concerned

The problem is even though they’ve been arrested, the case will still fizzle out when these officers who are likely out for their own selfish gain will sell out finally and they will even end up frustrating the victims rather than helping them. Thats the real problem…

http://www.facebook.com/olakunle.carlala Olakunle Carlala

Shouldn’t the site be off from the web server. Cos I did a routine check and the site is still on. Pls do something about it quick.

GBOYE

God save Nigeria

zeus

I was a victim as well, there is one of them whom I have is number and its still connecting, I think this is another group, pls get in touch with me to give is no for another sting operation,08056858801

cjay

This group of people have to be stopped. I believe the same mike is out of custody, as he now goes by the name mike babatunde. I was saved by doing a background check on the website and by reading this article.

Kemxy

Am also i victim?!but i never paid them i told the guys to bring the car first before payment!i just thank god

pastor paul

i dont believe all this news people they are full of lies i bought car last week from customs toyota camry and am enjoying my car till day…..was very cheap for me..and it was delivered to my house…i am pastor paul from abuja

am barrister adams..i paid for my car and it got delivered to me..maybe the police as usually have caught the innocent again…free them dont lie on them they are innocent..am a barrister and i know what is happening in the system…i bought my car from customs rav4 2008..i paid 500k up front and it was delivered to me at my house 22 aji kopeju street,ajao.lagos 3days after i paid..and the car till date is good..customs are selling police and punch should not lie or look for stories to boos their lazyness

polw_bn

stupid, pervert.. who would pay 500k up front. stupid scammer

Larry Eliemenye

You are a fool. You are one of the fraudsters. thanks for giving us your house address. I will send this to EFCC. If you want to be a con artist you should at least have some brains.

Bisou

This site is still up,I almost fell victim myself yesterday.Why hasn’t the site been shut down and the whole group arrested?1 of them says his name is Customs Uche the other one says his name is Superintendent Alabi………419

Gerald

I paste evey time i see that crap; BEWARE OF 419…

Ic_U

@barristeradamsokaru:disqus @8e1e2ff1c587368d194c7ba01aa6b272:disqus, you all are part of the operation obviously.

Frank

I nearly fall victim of this scrap…. But thank God for internet.

The website is still running, pls help us do something about this?

Dele

You people should stop putting up fake news here! I too paid 200,000N up for my Honda Accord 2012 model and i got the car delivered to my house here in Lagos so why wasn’t i scammed? please outgrow this fake news and tell us about our leaders who are the main people in to this 419 something.